Trump Says He Is Suing CNN, Other Outlets

Donald Trump
(Image credit: Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Former President Donald Trump, whose allegations, without evidence, that the 2020 election was rigged helped fuel the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, has signaled he plans to sue CNN for its "fake news."

But given that the news came in the form of one of innumerable fundraising emails from the President and his as-of-yet non-campaign, it could be yet another effort to raise money for a possible 2024 run.

"I have notified CNN of my intent to file a lawsuit," Trump said, citing its "repeated defamatory statements against me."

This is not the first time Trump or his representatives have threatened to sue CNN or said they intend to sue CNN over statements made about him, unless the network issued a retraction or apology.

Trump also said he would be launching lawsuits against other media outlets he claimed defamed him and "defrauded the public."

That was followed by the funding request, couched this way: "I’m calling on my best and most dedicated supporters to add their names to stand with me in my impending LAWSUIT against Fake News CNN." The "add your name" page also requests an accompanying donation, with $250 emphasized and "monthly" recommended.

Trump has been hawking T-shirts. medallions, hats and much more in an effort to raise money for the Save America Joint Fundraising Committee (PAC). ■

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.